Roller-steady for lathes.



W. A. WEAVER & W. T. BROWN.

ROLLER STEADY FOR LATHES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.20. 1915.

1,181,495, Patented May 2,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W.IA. WEAVER & W. T. BROWN. ROLLER STEADY FOR LATHES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 2, 1916.

WILLIAM A. WEAVER AND WILLIAM T. BROWN, 0F GOVENTRY, ENGLAND.

ROLLER-STEADY FOR LATI-IES.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application iled November 20, 1915. Serial No. 62,629.

ATo all whom t may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM ARTHUR WEAVERand WILLIAM THoMAs Birowrnboth subjects of the King of Great Britain andIreland, and residents of Coventry, Warwickshire, England, have inventedan Improved Roller-Steady for Lathes and the like, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention refers to roller steadies as used in lathes and likemachines, such as milling or grinding machines, and particularly thosecombined with a tool holder for cutting and sizing bars, pins, studs andthe like, the roller steadies serving to counteract the pressure of thetool on the work.

The invention consists of an improved construction of roller steadywherein the rollers are capable of being adjusted simultaneously andheld to the work by a single operating or adjusting device, thechieffeatures of the invention being two independent roller-carrying slidesarranged within a casing common to both and each designed to move towardand away from the work, in combination with a screw and cone actingdirectly upon the slides `for causing the rollers to simultaneouslyapproach the work, and a spring for simultaneously drawing both slidesand rollers away from the work as the cone is retracted.

A further feature of the invention is an arrangement of lubricating ductand connecting union for conveying a lubricant to the cutting tool whilein operation.

Upon the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a side exteriorelevation (partly in section), and Fig. 2.a sectional plan view of theimproved roller steadycombined with a tool holder. Fig. 3 illustrates afurther side elevation, but with the outer cover or end plate of theroller slide holder removed. Fig. 4 illustrates a transverse sectionalelevation of Fig. 3 on line :1J-a'. Fig. 5 illustrates a like view toFig. 3, but with portions of the roller slides removed, and with thefixed central stem of the holder casing in section, the section beingtaken on line y-z 7Fig. 4. Fig. 6 illustrates, in perspective, theroller slides separate from their holder. Fig. 7 illustrates a crosssection of a modication. Fig. 8 illustrates a side view of a furthermodification. Fig. 9 illustrates a sectional plan view of Fig. 2.

According to the invention, the improved roller steady comprises a bodyor base part a, suitable for attachment to the machine in which theroller steady is to be used. In one with such base part is a casing bwith detachable side cover plate b and forming the holder for the rollerslides and rollers. The interior of the holder is cylindrical, except atone point, where it is formed with a gap or opening b2. This openinglies opposite to the tool holder, which is in one with the base a, andconsists of a raised part c formed with a through passage and providedwith a set-screw (Z for the purpose of holding a tool placed in theholder, see Fig. l. In the rear wall of the casing b and in the coverplate b is an opening for the work to pass through, the base part ahaving a part a in which also is an opening for the work to passthrough.

Passing centrally through the casing b is a fixed stud or boss b3, theends of the boss being preferably turned down to fit a hole in the backof the casing and in the cover plate b, see Fig. 2. Within the annularchamber left between the stud or boss b3 and the inner cylindrical faceof the casing b are arranged the roller slides and rollers. Each slide(see Fig. 6) is made in two parts e', e2, each part being in the form ofan approximately flat piece of metal (preferably hardened steel), andthe two parts, when placed side by side, being designed to fit withinand fill a portion of the annular space within the casing Z), see Figs.3, 4 and 5. At one end each part of each slide is thicker than the otherend, see Fig. 4, and at such end the two parts touch each other. Also atthe other end of each part and upon each of the opposite faces of thetwo parts is a stud c3, the two studs being in alinement with each otherand onetouching or almost touching the other, so as to collectively formthe axle of a steel roller f placed between the two parts of the slide.For the purpose of adording the necessary clearance between the slidesand the work, the ends of the slides are cut away as much as possible,half the diameter of each stud c3 projecting beyond the edge cf theslide, see Fig. 6. For helping to hold the parts c', e2 in their properrelative posi tions, and for causing both to move together whileallowing the parts to be separated at any time for the purpose ofrenewing the roller f', the part e2 is provided with a fixed pin gadapted to project loosely through a hole in the part e', see Figs. 2, 3and il. The said pin g extends across the space between the parts of theslide and lies near to the boss or stud b3 when the slide is in thecasing Z. By means of a. spring 7L, see Fig. 5, arranged within the saidspace and secured by its ends to the pin g of one slide and to the pin gof the other slide, the spring serves to draw the slides toward eachother. To allow room for the spring, and also to allow the spring tohave a more direct pull on the slides, the boss or stud Z13 may be filedaway or grooved on the side next the spring, see Fig. 5.

At the rear of the casing Z) is a bearing b" and floating nut b5 andthrough such bearing and nut passes a screw 1I, the forward end ofwhich, within the casing b, is provided with a cone j. This cone, withthe rotary and longitudinal movements of the screw, is designed toengage conical or beveled faces on the adjoining` ends of the two rollercarrying slides, the beveling of the slides extending preferably acrossthe full thickness of the part c2 and partly across the thickness of thepart c, see Fig. il. lith the screw i fully retracted, the cone j allowsthe slides to meet or almost meet, and thereby hold the rollers f, attheir furthest distance apart. Upon however,the screw z' being screwedinto the casing, the cone j causes the slides to separate, and therollers f, f to approach each other, the movements of the two slidesbeing equal and simultaneous. In this way, with the apparatus in use,and with the bar to be operated upon passing through the casing Z), thesingle regulation of the screw Z serves to bring both rollers f, fagainst the bar, or, with areverse rotation, to move both away from thebar.

The roller-carrying slides, by being formed to the curve of the casing band stud b3 are caused, when operated by the screw z', to move in acurved path, thus insuring the convergence of the rollers on to the workat the proper points. The screw 'Z is provided with a nut la by whichthe screw, after acting upon the slides to adjust them, may be firmlylocked against accidental disturbance.

As an alternative, the screw 2 may be provided with a cone, the narrowpart of which is next the screw, see Fig. 7, the action of the screwthen being reversed in operating to separate the slides. In suchconnection the screw may screw through a floating bush Z, this latter,while free to float, being held to the casing b by a flange Z and nutZ2, while the screw is held, after adjustment, by lock nut m.

the conc j, for separating the slides the screw 0 then being arranged toscrew through the cylindrical part of the casing Z). In lieu of formingthe roller axles studs in one with the parts c", c2 ofthe slides, whichis the preferred construction, a pin may be used fixed to or in one withone part and project loosely through a hole in the other part.

For the purpose of supplying oil or the like to the cutting tool, thebase a is provided with a duct or passage a?` which at one end isvertical and opens immediately below the cutting end of the tool, seeFig. l, while at the other end it is fitted with a supply pipe s. Thispipe rises up to a point above the level of the casing Zn and terminatesin a socket or union s fitted with a flexible packing ring s2. By meansof this union the operator can readily connect the usual oil supplypipe, the end of the pipe being merely slipped into the socket and thejoint being' made by the ring s2. By supplying the oil upward and on tothe point of the tool, see Fig. 9, the speed of cutting may beincreased.

That we claim is 1. In a combined roller steady and tool holder forlathes and the like, and, in combination, a cylindrical casing, and asupporting base integral with the casing, said base having at one partan opening for a tool and at such part constituting a tool holder, andsaid base also having a duct or passage for guiding a lubricant upwardand on to the point of a tool, when in the holder, and said casing and avertical vpart of the base, having an opening for the work7 to passthrough, a pair of slides within the casing, a roller carried at one endofeach slide, and said slides and rollers movable paths convergingtoward or diverging from the work, means, carried by the casing, forsimultaneously advancing the slides and rollers toward and against theworln,` and means, inclosed within the casing, for simultaneouslywithdrawing the slides and rollers from the work on the saidslide-advancing means being operated to allow of the withdrawal, as setforth. Y

2. In a combined roller steady and tool holder for lathes and the like,and, in combination, a cylindrical casing, and a supporting baseintegral with the casing, said base having a art extendmo' u ward at ashort distance from the casing and ysaid casf,

said slides and rollers movable in paths converging toward or divergingfrom the work, means, carried by the casing, for simultaneouslyadvancing the slides and rollers toward and against' the wor-k, and

means, inclosed within the casing, for simultaneously withdrawing theslides and rollers from the work on the said slide-advancing means beingoperated to allow of the withdrawal, as set forth.

3. In a combined roller steady and tool holder for lathes and the likeand, in combnation, a cylindrical easing, one side of which is xed andthe other removable, a central stud secured to the fixed side of theeasing and extending across the interior of the casing, a supportingbase integral, with the casing, and said base having a part eX- tendingupward at a short distance from the casing, and said easing and theupstanding part of the base each having an opening for the work to passthrough, a pair of slides within the easing, a roller carried at` oneend of eaoh slide, and said slides and rollers movable in pathsconverging toward or diverging from the wor a screw passing looselythrough a hole in the Wall of the casing, a loose floating nut withinthe casing with which the screw engages, a tapered part on the end ofthe screw adapted simultaneously to engage the slides to separate them,and a spring lying against the said central stud of the casing and atone end engaging one of the slides and at the other end engaging theother slide, as set forth.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands in thel presence oftwo witnesses.

WILLIAM A. WEAVER. WILLIAM T. BROWN.

Witnesses:

B. D. BLUNDSTONE, GEO. W. WoRsEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

